Living My Third Life In Danmachi

Chapter 8: Thousand Kills

"People need to have substance. If someone looks fine on the outside but is lacking on the inside, it's hard for them to be treated as a proper person."

– The Last Storyteller

...

My daily earnings vary, but on average, I make about 10,000 Valis per day. I could earn more, but I prefer to take it easy. Besides, there's a limit to how much I can carry by myself, including mana stones and drop items.

My strength stat is ridiculously high, except for durability, so carrying things isn't an issue. However, it becomes cumbersome to move around. If I put things in the pouch at my waist, the shifted center of gravity gets annoying.

"The exchanged amount is 11,300 Valis. By the way, Luke... are you still not going to use proper armor?"

"Well, now that I think about it, I'm considering getting at least some battle clothes as I descend further. Armor is heavy and uncomfortable, making it hard to move. Something closer to clothing, like battle clothes, would be more suitable."

In my previous life, I at least wore a bulletproof vest, so honestly, this is a bit overdue.

If battle clothes can prevent minor injuries, I can save on potion costs, which would be ideal.

"Do you know any good shops? I'd appreciate a recommendation."

"For that, [Hephaestus Familia] or [Goibniu Familia] has excellent products. Being renowned Familias, their quality is guaranteed."

"It'd be nice if my wallet's situation was guaranteed too."

Since I fight barehanded, I don't have to worry about equipment maintenance costs aside from potions. While I make more money than others, a chunk of it goes to rent and food expenses, so the amount I save isn't as much as you'd think.

If I'm going to buy armor... it'll cost me a good bit.

"You're still progressing much faster than other adventurers. To think you've reached the 10th floor in just two months... How can you grow so quickly?"

"Isn't it inappropriate for a Guild employee to ask that kind of thing outright?"

"Oh, right. Sorry. Pretend you didn't hear that."

"I don't mind. If you're curious, it's related to my skill. When I kill monsters stronger than me, I gain more Excelia."

"W-What?! Are you sure you're okay with telling me that? A status is a taboo topic for adventurers!"

"Who asked in the first place?"

Even after I explain, that's the reaction I get.

After receiving the exchanged money and parting ways with Eina, I headed home. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I pondered what to have for dinner while walking down the road.

Then, a familiar silhouette appeared ahead of me.

"Huh?"

I hadn't seen her even once in the past two months. Honestly, she should be living happily somewhere else entirely.

Small and delicate, though she seemed to have gained some weight from eating well in the time we were apart.

Still, her natural height couldn't be helped, and even after turning 20, she would always look like a child. She was a Pallum—Liliruca Arde.

If she'd appeared to be living well, I might have assumed she was just out running an errand or taking care of some business.

But with dust covering her body, her face on the verge of tears, and her gaze fixed on the ground as she walked, it was obvious to anyone that something was wrong.

"Hey, Lili."

"...Ugh, Adventurer-sama?"

Come to think of it, I don't think I ever told her my name.

"It's Luke. Luke Blade. So, why are you wandering around here looking so miserable?"

"Sniff... That's... because..."

As she tried to speak, her emotions seemed to overwhelm her, and tears started streaming down her face.

Crying loudly, she looked just like a child her age, and without realizing it, I found myself patting her head to comfort her.

Something must have happened.

I patted Lili on the back as she sobbed and hiccupped, trying to calm her down.

"For now, let's head to my Familia's home. We'll get some food, let you rest, and then you can tell me what's going on."

Without hesitation, I picked her up and carried her to my house. She struggled a bit in resistance, but as a supporter, she wasn't as strong as I was. It was a little annoying with her squirming, but manageable.

When we arrived home, Susanoo turned to look at Lili, his eyes widening in shock.

"...Kidnapping?"

"No! I might've done it once before, but not this time!"

"What are you, Araragi? Did you pounce on a random girl yelling 'Hachikujiiii~!' and knock her out?"

"I am not a Loliragi! I like mature women, okay? Flat-chested or well-endowed, I might have preferences, but I don't touch kids!"

Susanoo knew about that series, huh?

While we were joking around, Lili nervously glanced around with wide eyes, looking just like a stray cat that wandered into someone's home.

"Um... Excuse me… Lili is part of the [Soma Familia]. It's not right for Lili to be in Luke-sama's Familia home."

"I don't mind."

"But without the permission of the Familia's god..."

"Fine. Cute, polite kids get my approval. Permission granted!"

"Wait... You're a god?!"

Huh. Now that I think about it, this is strange. When I've met gods before, even without special abilities, you could sense their divine presence. They just had this aura about them that made it obvious.

But Susanoo doesn't have that feeling at all. Compared to most gods, there's a big difference.

"Oh, I'm used to hiding my divinity, so I suppress it intentionally. Makes things easier for everyone."

That explanation sounded oddly suspicious. Since when is hiding divinity "something you're used to"?

"Anyway, who's the kid, and why'd you bring her here?"

"I had a contract with her, but for some reason, it seems like it's been broken. I wanted to hear her side of the story."

"Alright, let's eat dinner first. A full stomach might help her calm down."

Susanoo glanced at the tear streaks on Lili's face and spoke with an understanding tone.

Riseria, claiming she had something to do, had shut herself in her room and didn't come out. She'd occasionally do that, and during such times, I'd just leave her dinner outside her door.

So, it was just the three of us—Lili, Susanoo, and me—sitting at the dining table.

"By the way, how do you even know the Monogatari Series references? Is that your thing?"

"I've always liked stories with non-human characters. Got any good recommendations?"

"You can't even watch them here anyway."

"I'll remember them and look them up later. No big deal."

"Damn, having a god who's an otaku... Fine, I've written fanfiction for stuff like A Certain Magical Index or the Monogatari Series before. I can write them for you if you need."

"Huh? How?"

"Let's just say I've done some things the original authors wouldn't approve of. Made a bit of money off it too."

"Then why don't you do the same here? You've got a few classics up your sleeve."

"What, like The Lord of the Rings? Oh no, copyright eaters are coming!"

As usual, we chatted nonsense while eating. At first, Lili didn't touch her food, but after some hesitation and cautious glances, she slowly began taking small bites with her fork.

She looked adorable chewing, in a purely fatherly way, like watching a daughter enjoy her meal.

After finishing dinner, Susanoo and I decided to digest a bit while warming up some hot cocoa. I poured the cocoa into three cups and returned to the table, ready to get down to business.

"Alright, so what's the problem?"

"...I'm sorry. I appreciate your concern, but I can't tell you."

"Why? You seemed like you wanted to talk earlier."

"That was... I'm sorry. I really can't. Thank you for worrying about me, but I think I should go now."

I stopped Lili as she hurriedly tried to leave.

She had already come this far; it would be better for her to stop hesitating and just talk. That way, I could help solve the problem.

When I make a contract, I stick to it. As long as the other party doesn't pull any tricks, I honor the agreement to the letter, even offering aftercare if necessary.

If Lili's ordinary life has been shattered, then protecting her is part of my responsibility.

"It seems like this is about me... probably something related to the Familia itself. If that's the case, I, Susanoo, will step aside coolly."

"Huh?"

Susanoo gave a thumbs-up, grabbed his cup of cocoa, and headed upstairs to his room.

...Now that I think about it, earlier she seemed willing to talk, but now she's refusing. The only difference between then and now is Susanoo's presence.

So, it's a Familia issue?

"Go ahead and tell me, Lili. The god deliberately left us alone, so it'd be rude not to."

Reluctantly, Lili began to talk. After we parted ways, she had started working at a flower shop she'd been eyeing for a while.

The [Soma Familia] hadn't bothered to look for her, and the elderly couple who owned the shop treated her kindly, almost like their own granddaughter.

If things had stayed like that, Lili might have lived a happy life.

But fate wasn't so kind.

By chance, a member of the same Familia discovered her. That was the beginning of her troubles.

Once word spread that she was alive, they tried to exploit her. They destroyed the flower shop where she worked and caused havoc.

While the elderly couple were unharmed, the incident left Lili with no choice but to leave.

"..."

Hearing Lili's story stirred up so many thoughts in my mind.

Why is it that the world can't leave people who just want to live quietly and peacefully alone? They're not asking for much. Why is it such a crime to want to work in a flower shop and live a modest life?

It's garbage like this world that creates people like me.

"Luke-sama... would it be possible for you to lend Lili some money? The other Familia members took everything I had saved, so I don't have any money left... But I need to help the owners of the flower shop."

"Can't you just report their actions to the Guild? They'd probably step in right away."

"Even if they do, there's no guarantee it'll be resolved properly. It might even lead to retaliation."

The situation in the [Soma Familia] is a total mess. From what I've heard, their god doesn't care about the Familia at all and just focuses on making wine for personal enjoyment. Honestly, that wine I had last time was pretty good, though.

"How much do you need?"

"The shop was severely damaged, so around 20,000 Valis... That should be enough to help them rebuild."

20,000 Valis. If I worked really hard, I could earn that in a single day.

But thinking about it, that's an amount a typical five-person party would earn together. In real-world terms, it's like 2 million yen—a substantial sum.

There was no way Lili, who had been a supporter, could have such a large amount of money.

"I'll find a way to pay back the loan... If necessary, I'll even sell my body."

"Stop right there. Absolutely not."

I instinctively frowned and covered Lili's mouth.

It's one thing for a girl to say outrageous things, but there are lines you simply don't cross, no matter the situation.

A statement like that shouldn't come from the mouth of a kid barely in her teens.

"I'll lend you the money. But take back what you said about selling your body. That's something you should only say when your life has truly hit rock bottom."

"...Lili's life is already at rock bottom. It's just a matter of where it goes from here."

"Then I'll kick you right back up to the top."

Before giving her the money, I needed to make things official. Even if she resisted, once the deal was established, I would push through with it no matter what.

"So, Lili, are you really saying you don't have a single Valis on you? Not even one Valis in your pocket?"

"…I only have a single 10 Valis gold coin. But why are you asking?"

"Just hand it over."

Lili gave me a puzzled look but reached into her pocket and handed me the 10 Valis coin.

With that, the deal was sealed.

"You see, I used to make a living taking requests and solving problems for people. Kind of like a mercenary. Something like that."

"Are you really planning to help Lili with just 10 Valis? That's impossible."

"The request I'm accepting is about cleaning up trash. I'll give you back 9 Valis later. I've been overpaid."

"…Trash?"

"You remember when we first met, right?"

Lili's face turned pale. Truth be told, our initial meeting wasn't a pleasant one. It involved death, and a deal made to cover it up.

She was sharp enough to already piece it together.

"But before that, there's something else that needs to be done. The most urgent thing."

I now had a clear purpose.

For now, I decided that Lili would stay at our home. Normally, people from other Familias aren't allowed to stay in another Familia's home, but this is just a rented apartment, not an official home. It's not even owned by us.

"I need to level up, Susanoo."

"What brought this on all of a sudden?"

"I need strength. And money."

Up until now, I didn't think much about leveling up since I didn't have a clear goal. But to help Lili, being a mere LV.1 isn't going to cut it. If it comes down to it, I might have to face off against an entire Familia. I need to get stronger.

The most critical step for that is leveling up. It's the surest way to see a significant increase in my abilities.

"You know it's really difficult, right? It's not something you can just decide to do today or tomorrow."

"In my previous life, there were moments after certain jobs when I could feel myself growing stronger. I can recreate that here, thanks to the dungeon. If I succeed, I'll definitely level up."

"What kind of job are you talking about?"

Back when I worked as a contractor, there were times after intense battles when I felt undeniable growth.

The dungeon allows me to recreate those intense conditions. If I push myself, I can force a breakthrough and level up.

"...Are you insane? That's the kind of thing you'd only try against an opponent with an overwhelming advantage. Even in the upper floors, you're not overwhelmingly strong, so your odds of dying are much higher."

"Do or die. Besides, I've done it once before. I'll just roll around a bit and come back."

"You've lost your mind," Susanoo said, but he grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.

"Still, that's pretty manly. Just make sure you come back alive."

"Have dinner without me tonight. I won't be back until tomorrow."

First, I need to buy some potions… and just in case, I should let a few people know.

Then again, I don't have many connections, so the only ones I can tell are Eina and Aiz.

…Huh? They're both women. Something's definitely off about my social circle.

Anyway, today's a good day for this. I was already scheduled to meet Aiz for some quick training.

Leaving the home, I ran south. The meeting spot was at the southern edge of Orario, where the city walls intersect. It was the same place where Aiz and I had deepened our connection previously.

As always, Aiz was already there when I arrived. She was still practicing her thrusts.

"...100!"

She finally completed her goal of 100 focused thrusts, judging by the satisfied look on her sweat-covered face.

"You finished just in time. I don't plan to die, but it's reassuring that you're ready to move on to the next phase."

"Luke?"

I handed her a handkerchief to wipe her sweat.

"What should I teach you next… How about some advanced evasion techniques?"

"Before that, about what you said—about dying. Why would you say that?"

Aiz seemed more concerned about my earlier words than the training.

I won't die. I'm confident about that. This might be reckless, but it's not like I'm being cocky about having done it once before.

This is a fight against myself. I've faced and overcome my limits hundreds of times.

"Oh, it's just that I'm planning to go down to the dungeon today to achieve a Rank Up. That's all."

"You've only been an adventurer for two months! And how would you even do that?"

"My skill lets me grow faster than normal. Honestly, I'm at about an upper-level LV.1 in terms of ability."

"Even so, it's dangerous."

"If we had the same stats and fought each other, who do you think would win?"

I've sparred with Aiz a few times while teaching her, mixing in some real exchanges. When I limit my strength, I win. It just goes to show that experience makes all the difference.

Of course, there have been times when Aiz accidentally misjudged her strength and sent me flying.

But recently, she's become better at controlling her power, and her swordsmanship has become even more refined as a result. I suppose I've unintentionally helped her train in that regard.

"But Rank Up isn't easy. It's hard. You could die."

"There's something I want to do, even if it means risking my life."

"If you die, you won't be able to do anything."

Worry was evident in Aiz's eyes—a rare show of emotion for someone so usually stoic.

This was the perfect moment for a dramatic line.

"If you don't risk your life, the future won't open."

A line worthy of a hero. It wasn't just for show; it expressed exactly how I felt.

Sometimes, you have to stake your life to carve out a path forward.

"Did you think you'd get stronger without risking your life, Aiz? No, right?"

She nodded in agreement.

As a Level 3 adventurer, she's undoubtedly had more experience with Rank Ups than me. And it's impossible she hasn't faced life-threatening situations along the way.

"Judging by your reaction, I'd better avoid meeting Eina. She'd probably cling to my legs, crying and screaming to stop me."

"...Good luck. Don't die," Aiz said, choosing to cheer me on instead of trying to stop me.

If I ever had a daughter like her, I'd be a proud father.

Descending into the dungeon, I made my way to the 11th floor. The monsters on the 11th floor, even if they're the same type as those on the 10th, are noticeably stronger.

Take orcs, for instance—they're a bit more powerful here.

Originally, I'd planned to start on the 10th floor, but for safety's sake, I decided to begin on the 11th.

On this floor, new monsters like Silverbacks, Hard Armoreds, and Infant Dragons start to appear. I'd never faced them before, but I already had strategies in mind for all of them.

"Man, they're spread out. Would it kill them to spawn closer together? Well, at least that means I won't accidentally drag others into this mess."

I headed to a specific spot on the 11th floor. I already knew its location, having memorized it in advance.

It's called the Plant, a place where the dungeon produces the sap that sustains the monsters.

Every type of monster on this floor spawns there. That makes it both incredibly dangerous and the perfect stage for my plan.

Once it starts, there's no backing out. It's like jumping off a cliff—you either land or fall to your doom.

After about an hour, I reached the Plant. I stretched, took a short rest, and prepared myself mentally.

Gathered around the central crystal, from which the liquid sap flowed, were numerous monsters—several types, numbering in the dozens.

I stepped into their midst.

"Alright, bring it on."

Orcs, Frog Shooters, Silverbacks, Hard Armoreds, Purple Moths, Imps, and more.

A wide variety of monsters turned toward me, growling as they noticed the human intruder in their domain. Then, they charged.

It's a fight to the death.

Either I die, or they do.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

The endless cycle of killing continued.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

It was a fight to the death, a relentless battle where survival was the only goal. My strength, will, and determination clashed against the unending tide of monsters. Each strike, each move, and each breath was a step closer to victory—or death.

Covered in blood, with chunks of flesh torn from their bodies, the monsters kept charging relentlessly, undeterred by pain or fear.

I only used potions sparingly, reserving them for wounds that looked like they would cause excessive bleeding.

Biting, scratching, gouging—no method was too dirty, no tactic too low. Survival was the only rule here.

After cutting down 100, then 200 enemies, my mind became hazy. I couldn't even remember what I was doing anymore.

Was I fighting to live? Or was I simply swinging my weapon out of instinct, consumed by the endless cycle of violence?

The bloodstained battlefield blurred, yet my body continued to move, driven purely by the primal urge to survive.

It felt like I was Hiraga Saito, standing alone against 30,000 soldiers.

I had entered a state of complete focus, moving with such efficiency and precision that killing became second nature. My body had long surpassed its physical limits.

By the time I reached 500 kills, my body should have been unable to move.

It was as if I had killed even my own sense of self. Like a puppet controlled by sheer murderous intent, I kept moving, driven by nothing but the will to destroy my enemies.

Finally, I cut down the last monster.

Thud!

The massive lizard-like dragon, an Infant Dragon, fell to the ground with a resounding crash.

Standing atop a mountain of countless monster corpses, I, on the verge of collapse, managed to utter one final phrase:

"Mission complete—Thousand Kills Achieved."

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